Stephen Day's Biography

59. Stephen[7] Day (Benjamin, 110) (A64). Born, 26 Dec 1778, in NJ[83]. Died,

19 Aug 1864, in New Providence, Union Co., NJ. Extra 4: 1830, in New Providence

Twp., Essex Co., NJ, 1840. Burial in M.E. Church, Union Co., NJ, (New Providence).

Census: 1850, in New Providence Twp., Essex Co., NJ. Census: 1860, in New

Providence Twp., Union Co., NJ. Occupation: Farmer, Methodist Minister, Shoemaker

In the 1830 census there were 2 males in Stephen's household less than 5 years old, 2 males 5-9, 1 male 10-14, 2 males 15-19, 3 males 20-29, 1 male 30-39, 1 female 15-19, 1 female 40-49 (Betsey), and 1 female 70-79 (Stephen's mother was about 82 at the time) as well as Stephen (50-59). In the 1840 census, there were 2 males 10-15, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 30-40, 1 male 60-70 (Stephen), 1 female 20-30, and 1 female 60-70 in the household. Two members were engaged in manufacturing and trades. Stephen was listed as a farmer in the 1850 census, with a tax value of $2000. He was living with Elizabeth, his wife, and the family of and including his son William. In the 1860 census, he was listed as a farmer with a tax value of $1000. With him lived Elizabeth and their son Samuel (tax value $3000 and $2000) and his family, as well as a domestic servant, Catherine Fitzpatrick from Ireland.

Gen., State of New Jersey: He was a "captain of the militia." This publication may have been confused here with another Stephen Day.

Wood (1954), from Edwin A. Day, Day Family Reunion 1882: "The Rev. Stephen Day, the paternal progenitor of this Methodist household, was a native of New Jersey. His entire married life was spent in the village of new Providence in the beautiful valley of the Passaic. While young, under the preaching of Rev. Mr. Finley, a Presbyterian evangelist of precious memory, he was awakened and converted to God. Guided, however, by his own most decided doctrinal convictions, Father Day entered the field of the Methodist Episcopal Church and at once became a most zealous worker therein for the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom. He was soon licensed to preach, and subsequently ordained by Bishop George.

"...The house of this Christian couple, from the very beginning of their married life was ever a welcome home for the Methodist preachers, Bishops Asbury, McKendree, and George, Benjamin Collins and many more of Christ's heros in those early days of Methodism...have honored and blessed that home with their saintly presence and prayers. Bishop McKendree was a guest there when word reached him of the last illness of sainted Asbury...

"From a letter from George B. Day...to Stephen S. Day: "...My mother died when I was about five years old and when I was seven I became in some way a member of the household in New Providence. There were then living at home Uncles Stephen, Daniel, Francis, William, and Edwin. My recollection of Uncle Stephen at that time is a blank. The other four worked on the farm when necessary, and at other times were engaged in the shoe shop. All five of us slept in an attic room off from the large garret. Francis and Daniel occupied one double bed, William and Edwin the other, and as the smallest of the boys, I slept between the two.

"Grandfather had then a shoe shop in the corner of the front yard. It faced the street and was gained from the house by a path from the door of the big living room. The shop was afterwards discarded and a carriage house built near the barn, the upper part of which was fitted up for shoe making. Here several journeymen were employed making shoes. One, William Bedford by name, made calfskin shoes for customers. Another small man was also a steady and made shoes for women. All the rest made standard cowhide shoes and were generally on the order of tramps. The cowhide shoes were of varied sizes and were usually sold to the stores owned by mining companies near Dover. Stephen Day gave long credit to these stores which came near to causing his undoing. He had trusted these stores with goods in the value up to the thousands. The Democrats changed the Tariff on iron and the companies failed outright and Stephen Day was left to mourn the loss.

"Our grandfather was a unique character and never had a double. He was conscientious above all others I ever knew. I doubt if he could have cheated any man or lied to him if he had made the effort. He was so upright that he leaned backwards. The right and wrong of things was all that he could see. He had not the slightest sense of humor. If he ever laughed or smiled even, it was from the bubbling up of the emotion of joy. 'Funny' and 'comical' were words without meaning to him. Apart from such knowledge that came from observation, and the ordinary experiences of life, his information was limited to the doctrine of Methodism and the primary principles of Whigism. It was a great misfortune for the boys that there were so few books in the house. In a little cubby hole over the oven between the living room and the kitchen were two or three volumes and some papers. This was all the reading matter I recall for a house full of boys.

"Stephen Day's voice was harsh and stern, wholly without modulation. If he had tried to whisper, he could have been heard in the next room. He said the most trivial of things in the most heroic of terms, and if he spoke to a strange child, the child would run at the first tones of his terrible voice. In his preaching and his prayers he thundered and could be heard, I have heard it said, a mile off. All his sons feared him and yet could never account for their fear. His ruggedness and sternness were not in his mind, but wholly in his physical make up. The community came to know this gradually. He was loved, despite the fear his voice and manner begot in ordinary minds.

"It was also true to say Stephen Day was devoid of consciousness. He himself knew what manner of man he was. He had little comparative introspection. It is doubtful if he ever suspected his voice was loud and harsh or his manners brusque and unrespectful. He knew nothing whatever about culture and was content with himself as he conceived God made him.

"When my father was on the Staten Island circuit, his father made the son a visit. He tarried over Sunday, and the son made his father preach for him. At the conclusion of the service a Steward stepped up and said to Mulford Day, 'I knew that was your brother as soon as he rose to preach and you look so much alike. But I can't make out which is the elder. Tell me.' 'Which do you think is the elder,' said Mulford. 'I suspect you are,' replied the steward. Both the father and the son had an oldish look, but the father's wrinkles did not deepen as rapidly as the sons.

Clayton (1882), History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey: A Stephen Day is listed as a County Collector in 1810, 1824, 1827, and 1829.

"The first Methodist preachers in New Providence were upon a circuit called the Elizabethtown, and occasionally preached in this neighborhood, whose ministers belonged to the Philadelphia conference...Rev. Elon Genung, Stephen Day, and John Hancock, local preachers. These clergymen held meetings from house to house, and not until 1798 was the Methodist Church fully established in Turkey (now New Providence). "Stephen was listed as a local preacher in 1834, as well as a leader and a steward. The first Sunday school was organized in 1818, and Rev. Stephen Day was one of the first superintendents.

His tombstone reads, "Rev. Stephen Day, died Aug. 19, 1864, in his 86th year. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness."

He married, first, Sally Mulford, daughter of Cornelius Mulford and

Nancy Bryant. Born, circa 1781. Died, 7 Apr 1801. Burial: 18 Apr 1801[87].

Children:

i. Mulford Day. Born, 8 Apr 1801. Died, 26 Jun 1851[35].

Burial in M.E. Cem., Union Co., NJ, (New Providence). Resided 1824,

in New Providence, Essex Co., NJ. Occupation: Methodist Minister.

He married, first, Sarah Brookfield, 6 Apr 1824, in Morris Co.,

NJ[1]. He married, second, Sarah Ann Thompson.

He married[84], second, Elizabeth Coe Wood (60) (A65), 15 Aug 1804, in

Springfield, Essex Co., NJ[85]. Children:

ii. Daniel[6] Day. Born, 29 Jun 1805. Died, 1805, age 9 mo.[35].

iii. Benjamin Day. Born, 31 Jan 1807. Died, 18 Oct 1891. Resides in

Ann Arbor, Michigan. He married Mary Taylor, daughter of Moses

Taylor.

iv. Stephen Day. Born, 26 Feb 1809. Died, 25 Sep 1887. Census: 1840,

in New Providence Twp., Essex Co., NJ. He married Rachel

Brookfield, daughter of Job Brookfield.

v. Peter Davidson Day. Born, 6 Aug 1811. Died, 10 Oct 1888. Census:

1840, in Vernon Twp., Sussex Co., NJ. Census: 1850, in Newark,

Essex Co., NJ. Occupation: Grocer, Methodist Minister. He married, first,

Stella Elizabeth Reading. He married, second, Jane Vroom

Voorhies.

vi. Samuel Thomas Day. Born, 13 Dec 1813, in New Providence, NJ[14].

Died, 8 Feb 1892. Extra 4: 1860, in New Providence Twp., Union Co.,

NJ. Census: 1880, in New Providence Twp., Union Co., NJ. Census:

1850, in New Providence Twp., Essex Co., NJ. Census: 1870, in New

Providence Twp., Union Co., NJ. Occupation: Farmer, Carpenter. He

married Elizabeth Crane, daughter of John Crane.

vii. Waters Day. Born, 6 Feb 1818. Died, 6 Apr 1837.

viii. Daniel Wood Day. Born, 6 Feb 1821, in New Providence, Union,

NJ[53]. Died, 8 Oct 1912. Census: 1850, in Morris Twp., Morris

Co., NJ. Census: 1860, in New Providence Twp., Union Co., NJ.

Occupation: Shoemaker, Lumber. He married Caroline Parrott,

daughter of Squier Parrott, 17 Nov 1847[35].

ix. Francis Asbury Day. Born, 20 Nov 1822, in NJ[86]. Died, 23 Aug

1908. Census: 1850, in Morris Twp., Morris Co., NJ. Census:

1900, in Morristown, Morris Co., NJ. Occupation: Lumber Dealer.

He married Hannah Hick, daughter of William Hick, 16 Nov

1847[35].

31 x. William McKendry Day.

xi. Edwin Augustus Day. Born, 8 Jan 1828, in NJ[36]. Died, 9 Nov

1884. Census: 1850, in Morris Twp., Morris Co., NJ. Occupation:

Lumber Dealer.